The following article by M. Scott Mahaskey appeared in the Marine Corps Times.
The full Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. James Conway to be the 34th commandant of the Marine Corps. Conway, who will also receive a fourth star, will succeed Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee as early as this November, officials have said.

Lieutenant General James T. Conway Director of Operations J-3, on the Joint Staff

As the commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force in 2003, Conway oversaw troops during the invasion of Iraq and returned the following year to help execute the first battle of Fallujah that April.  Conway, 58, and a 36-year veteran of the Corps, is currently director of operations for the Joint Staff.  In a statement today, Hagee said Conway is a "superb, multi-talented leader." "He has proven he can do it all, on and off the battlefield. I am extremely happy for the Corps and the nation at his confirmation to be the 34th commandant," Hagee said. "He and his wife, Annette, will be a great team."

Official Biography for Lieutenant General  James T. Conway

Lieutenant General James T. Conway currently serves as the Director of Operations, J-3, on the Joint Staff, Washington DC.

Lieutenant General Conway was commissioned in 1970 as an infantry officer and served initially with the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, Camp Pendleton, as a rifle platoon commander and as the Battalion's 106mm recoilless-rifle platoon commander. Subsequently, he served as a company commander in the Infantry Training Regiment; as Executive Officer of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63); at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego as a series and company commander in the Recruit Training Regiment, as the aide to the Commanding General, and as Director, Sea School.

After career level school in 1977, he reported to 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division where he commanded two companies and served in the Regiment's S-3. Posted to The Basic School he commanded two companies of officer students and taught tactics. Following intermediate level school, his next tour was as operations officer for the 31st MAU, where he spent 13 months at sea in WESTPAC and in contingency operations off Beirut, Lebanon.

Returning to CONUS in July 1984, he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, and later served two years as Senior Aide to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Upon completion of top level school, he was reassigned to the 2d Marine Division serving as Division G-3 Operations Officer before assuming command of 3d Battalion, 2d Marines in January 1990. Under his command Battalion Landing Team 3/2 deployed to Southwest Asia for eight months for Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Selected for colonel, he was assigned as the Ground Colonels' Monitor, HQMC. He assumed command of The Basic School on April 30, 1993 and in that role was selected for Brigadier General in December 1995. Re-assigned to the Joint Staff, he served as the Deputy Director of Operations J-3 for Combating Terrorism. He then served as the President, Marine Corps University at Quantico, VA. After being selected for promotion to Major General, he assumed command of the 1st Marine Division. In November of 2002 LtGen Conway was promoted to his current rank and assumed command of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. He commanded I MEF during two combat tours in Iraq.

His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold stars in lieu of second and third awards, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Lieutenant General Conway graduated with honors from The Basic School, the U.S. Army Infantry Officers' Advanced Course, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Air War College.